Chapter CLXV. How the holy father, after he had passed away, appeared to one of the brethren

219. In that night and at that hour, the glorious father appeared to another of the brethren (a man of praiseworthy life who was then absorbed in prayer) clothed in a purple dalmatic, and followed by a countless multitude of men, from which multitude several detached themselves, and said to that brother, "Is not this Christ, brother?" And he replied, "It is He". Others again asked him, "Is not this S. Francis?" And the brother gave the like answer u that it was he". Truly it seemed to the brother and to all the multitude that the person of Christ and of S. Francis was one, a judgment which seems by no means temerarious to those of sound understanding, since he who cleaves to God becomes one spirit with Him, and God Himself shall be all in all. At length the blessed father with that wondrous crowd came to a delightsome place, watered with the most limpid streams, verdant with the fairest plants, radiant with the beauty of flowers and filled with every pleasant kind of trees. A palace was there, of wondrous size and singular beauty, which the new denizen of heaven entered eagerly; he found there very many brethren and began to feast with delight in their company at a table most splendidly set out, and covered with various dainties.